UEFA Champions League 2025-26 Season: A Journey of Dreams and Glory
The stage is no longer just set—it’s electrified. Young, fearless players are not waiting in the wings; they’ve stormed the spotlight, redefining what modern football looks like. Two thrilling leagues have exploded onto the scene with revolutionary formats, fresh-faced clubs, and a surge of unstoppable talent. This isn’t evolution—it’s revolution. These rising stars aren’t merely participating—they’re dominating. Their footwork is audacious, their pace is blistering, and their hunger for glory is intense. Every match is war, every goal a roar. This season isn’t just football—a skill, passion, and fearless ambition firestorm. Legends will rise, dreams will ignite, and the world will unite in one breathtaking celebration of the beautiful game. The UEFA Champions League is the beating heart of European football and the peak of global sporting glory. Since 1955, it’s united Europe’s top clubs in a relentless chase for glory. The roar of Anfield and the grandeur of the Santiago Bernabéu are not just atmospheres—they’re the backdrop to history. The Champions League 2025–26 starts a new era with a 36-team league phase replacing the group stage, a significant and grand change. With six English contenders, the road to Budapest promises elite clashes and a final on May 30, 2026. It’s an unapologetic, high-octane spectacle of mastery, passion, and resilience.
A new chapter is unfolding in the Champions League story. It begins with a bold venue update that is already igniting excitement across Europe. UEFA’s (Union of European Football Associations) decision to add a new stadium to its legendary lineup is more than a logistical update. It’s a bold statement of intent, signaling growth, inclusion, and a new chapter in Champions League history. The anticipation is palpable as Budapest’s Puskás Aréna is confirmed to host the final of the UEFA Champions League. The newly added venue will likely host significant knockout ties, including the semi-finals and quarter-finals. Its arrival promises fresh drama, new storylines, and unforgettable moments in Champions League history. Though its identity is still under wraps, its potential impact is massive. A new stadium brings fresh energy, fierce pride, and a game-changing atmosphere. It’s a chance for fans in a new city to experience the thrill of elite football live and loud. For players, unfamiliar turf brings fresh pressure—and the perfect stage to rise or unravel. Imagine the roar, the tension, and history unfolding in a fresh arena of dreams. This Champions League isn’t just about the game—it’s about expanding the soul of the competition. Step into the world of football, where every match brings global excitement. Stay updated with the latest games, in-depth stats, and real-time action from every major league around the globe.
Titans and Rising Stars: Teams and Players to Watch
UEFA Champions League 2025–26 marks the 71st edition of Europe’s top club competition and the 34th since its rebranding. Winning the 2025–26 Champions League brings more than a trophy. The champion earns automatic spots in next season’s league phase, the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, the 2029 Club World Cup, and the UEFA Super Cup. For the first time, six Premier League teams are competing; cheers to Tottenham’s Europa League win and UEFA’s coefficient bonus. The Champions League 2025–26 is likely to thrill. Manchester City leads the charge with eyes set on retaining their crown. Real Madrid and Bayern seek redemption, while Napoli and Newcastle aim to shake up tradition and challenge the elite. On the pitch, the spotlight burns brightest on megastars Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé, and Vinícius Júnior. Endrick and Zaïre-Emery lead a new wave of talent, igniting the pitch with youthful brilliance. But the real magic comes from the fans—stadium roars, home cheers, and UEFA’s fresh initiatives that bring everyone closer to the action. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or a newcomer to the sport, this season embraces everyone with open arms. The Champions League is a global celebration that unites cultures through football. Step into the world of all other global games—this is where every league, every match, and every moment matter.
Event Details—UEFA Champions League 2025-26
First qualifying round: 8-9 and 15-16 July 2025
Second qualifying round: 22-23 and 29-30 July 2025
Third qualifying round: 5-6, 12 August 2025
Play-offs: 19-20, 26-27 August 2025
League phase: 16 September 2025-28 January 2026
Knockout phase play-offs: 17-18 and 24-25 February 2026
Round of 16: 10-11 and 17-18 March 2026
Quarter-Finals: 7-8 and 14-15 April 2026
Semi-Finals: 28-29 April 2026, 5-6 May 2026
Final: 30 May 2026
Where can I watch the UEFA Champions League 2025–26 season live?
You can catch the UEFA Champions League 2025–26 live in the UK on TNT Sports and Amazon Prime Video. TNT Sports will broadcast most matches, including the final, while Amazon Prime Video will.
Watch the UEFA Champions League 2025–26 season live in the USA on Paramount+ for English—Spanish-language coverage on TUDN or ViX, with key matches also airing on CBS and CBS Sports Network.
You can watch the UEFA Champions League 2025–26 season live on DAZN and Amazon Prime Video in Germany. DAZN streams all Wednesday matches and most Tuesday games, while Amazon Prime Video has exclusive rights.
You can watch every match of the UEFA Champions League 2025–26 season live in Australia exclusively on Stan Sport. Stan Sport is the official broadcaster and offers live and on-demand coverage, including the final and key fixtures throughout the tournament.
Catch every match live on SuperSport via DStv, whether on your TV or through the DStv app in South Africa. Prefer streaming? Showmax Pro has full live coverage, which is all part of your subscription.
You can watch the UEFA Champions League 2025–26 season live on Sky Italia and Amazon Prime Video in Italy. Sky Italia shows most matches, while Amazon Prime Video streams select Tuesday games. Both offer live and on-demand coverage, including the final.
You won’t miss a moment of Champions League brilliance in France. Canal+ delivers full coverage across its channels and the myCANAL app, keeping fans at the heart of the action. M6 steps in with live broadcasts, including the grand finale, so you’re always plugged into football’s huge stage.
You can watch the UEFA Champions League 2025–26 season live on Movistar+ and RTVE in Spain. Movistar+ offers full coverage throughout the tournament, while RTVE broadcasts select key matches, including the final.
Watch the UEFA Champions League 2025–26 season live in Sri Lanka on Sony Sports 1–5. The SonyLIV app offers full coverage for streaming and match highlights anytime, anywhere.
The UEFA Champions League 2025–26 season will be available live on WOWOW in Japan. Fans can watch matches and stream all the big moments.
In China, football viewers will watch the UEFA Champions League 2025–26 season live exclusively on iQIYI, the official streaming partner. Enjoy ad-free coverage, highlights, and replays—stream anytime on any device.
Watch the UEFA Champions League 2025–26 season live on beIN Sports and Vidio in Indonesia. beIN Sports and Vidio stream live Champions League matches, highlights, and replays—watch on TV or the go.
How Does the New Format Work?
The UEFA Champions League 2025–26 season delivers football at its fiercest. Europe’s top 32 clubs clash in eight groups of four. Each team fights through six high-stakes matches, aiming to reach the knockout rounds. The top two from each group surge ahead, while third-placed teams pivot to the Europa League. From there, the real test begins—the top 8 teams from the league phase advance directly to the Round of 16. Teams ranked 9th to 24th fight for a spot in the knockouts; teams below 25th are eliminated. The drama builds from the Round of 16 to the final—same format, same fierce rivalries. Europe’s elite are ready to shine.
Third qualifying round—Seeding
A total of 20 teams will compete, seeded based on their 2025 UEFA club coefficients. UEFA may group seeded and unseeded teams before the draw. The first team drawn in each tie will host the first leg. The Champions Path features winners like Copenhagen and Red Star, plus four second-round qualifiers. The League Path includes seeded sides such as Benfica, Rangers, Feyenoord, and Salzburg.
Play-off round-Seeding
A total of 14 teams will compete in the play-off round, with seeding based on 2025 UEFA club coefficients. UEFA may group seeded and unseeded teams before the draw, and the first team drawn hosts the first leg. The Champions Path features Bodø/Glimt, Celtic, Basel, Sturm Graz, and six third-round winners. The League Path includes Benfica, Club Brugge, and Feyenoord, plus one more qualifier.
Rule Changes
UEFA’s rule changes for the Champions League 2025–26 season are a bold step toward a faster, more strategic competition. Matches tied after 90 minutes will now head straight to penalty shootouts, eliminating extra time and bringing swift, high-stakes conclusions. Home advantage is granted to higher-ranked teams in the knockout rounds. UEFA’s latest updates reward grit over reputation and prevent same-nation clashes before the quarters, boosting international appeal. Tactical sharpness and urgency define every match as the Champions League evolves for the modern game.
Who Qualifies for the 36 Spots?
32 teams qualify via traditional league placements
4 extra spots include:
3rd place team from Europe’s 5th-ranked league
Additional champion from “Champions Path”
2 clubs from the top-performing leagues of the previous season
Clubs Already Qualified for Champions League 2025-26
Several European giants have already secured their spots, including
Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Athletic Bilbao (Spain)
Liverpool (England)
Inter, Napoli (Italy)
PSG (France)
Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen (Germany)
Slavia Prague, Olympiacos
Schedule for Champions League 2025-26
Qualifying & Play-offs
Phase
Round
Draw date
First leg
Second leg
Qualifying
First qualifying round
17 June 2025
8–9 July 2025
15–16 July 2025
Qualifying
Second qualifying round
18 June 2025
22–23 July 2025
29–30 July 2025
Qualifying
Third qualifying round
21 July 2025
5–6 August 2025
12 August 2025
Play-offs
Play-off round
4 August 2025
19–20 August 2025
26–27 August 2025
League Phase
Phase
Round
Draw Date
Dates
League phase
Matchday 1
28 August 2025
16–18 September 2025
League phase
Matchday 2
28 August 2025
30 September – 1 October 2025
League phase
Matchday 3
28 August 2025
21–22 October 2025
League phase
Matchday 4
28 August 2025
4–5 November 2025
League phase
Matchday 5
28 August 2025
25–26 November 2025
League phase
Matchday 6
28 August 2025
9–10 December 2025
League phase
Matchday 7
28 August 2025
20–21 January 2026
League phase
Matchday 8
28 August 2025
28 January 2026
Knockout Phase
Phase
Round
Draw date
First leg
Second leg
Knockout phase
Knockout phase play-offs
30 January 2026
17–18 February 2026
24–25 February 2026
Knockout phase
Round of 16
27 February 2026
10–11 March 2026
17–18 March 2026
Knockout phase
Quarter-finals
27 February 2026
7–8 April 2026
14–15 April 2026
Knockout phase
Semi-finals
27 February 2026
28–29 April 2026
5–6 May 2026
Knockout phase
Final
–
30 May 2026 at Puskás Aréna, Budapest
–
Prediction
Zalgiris vs Hamrun
The Zalgiris face off with Hamrun on July 9, 2025, at FK Zalgiris Stadium, Vilnius, Lithuania, for the first leg 2 of the first qualifying round in the UEFA Champions League 2025-26 showdown.
Arsie From
Zalgiris—6th position in the A Lyga
Hamrun—4th position in the Premier League
Previous Game
Zalgiris Vilnius head into this clash following a gritty 1-0 win over Banga, achieved while playing with ten men. Despite their resilient 1-0 victory over Banga while down to ten men, Zalgiris Vilnius has struggled overall this season.
Hamrun Spartans come into this clash as a transformed force. With their league win in 2020/21, they ended a 20-year title drought. Despite limited success in Europe—just four wins from 18 ties—they carry domestic momentum and belief into every fixture. Hence, the Zalgiris will have a home-turf advantage to grab a victory.
Ludogorets vs Dinamo Minsk
On July 9, 2025, Ludogorets will clash with Dinamo Minsk at Huvepharma Arena, Razgrad, Bulgaria. They will meet for leg 1 of 2 of the first qualifying round in the Champions League 2025-26 run-in.
Arsie From
Ludogorets—12th position in the first league
Dinamo Minsk—4th position in the Belarusian Premier League
Previous Game
Ludogorets ended last season with a Bulgarian league and cup double, but their off-season form has been poor. Winless in friendlies, a 0-2 loss to Hradec Králové exposed key problems in attack and defense.
Dinamo Minsk is mid-season and should have an edge in form, but results tell a different story. On July 3, they suffered a 0-2 defeat to Maxline, which pushed them down to fourth place in the standings. This time, the Ludogorets will have more of a chance to win their upcoming matches.
FCSB vs Inter d’ Escaldes
At Steaua Stadium, Bucharest, Romania, FCSB and Inter d’Escaldes get together. On July 9, 2025, for leg 1 of 2 of the first qualifying round in the UEFA Champions League 2025-26 season.
Arsie From
FCSB—6th position in the Super Liga
Inter d’ Escaldes—1st position in the Primera Divisio
Previous Game
With a confident start to the season, FCSB is entering the Champions League qualifiers and Superliga opener with momentum and a winning mindset, underlining the significance of these upcoming matches.
Inter Club enters this clash without any friendly warm-up matches. Their last outing was a 1-0 victory over AC Escaldes in the Copa Constitucio final back in May. According to their performances, the FCSB will likely earn in their forthcoming series.
Shelbourne vs Linfield
Shelbourne will come to blows with Linfield on July 9, 2025, at Tolka Park, Dublin, Ireland. For the first leg of the first qualifying round in the UEFA Champions League 2025-26, the moment of truth.
Arsie From
Shelbourne—5th position in the League of Ireland Premier Division
Linfield—11th position in the NIFL Premiership
Previous Game
Harry Wood gave Shelbourne an early edge in their 3-1 win over Cork City with an injury. Shelbourne have become stalemate specialists this season, registering 11 draws alongside Drogheda. Despite that, they approach the Champions League qualifiers with an evident hunger for a commanding home win and progression.
David Healy’s side responded swiftly to their Charity Shield shootout defeat against Dungannon Swifts. The very next day, Linfield crushed Newbuildings Utd 7-1 in a friendly, lifting spirits ahead of their trip to Dublin. As a result, Shelbourne will follow the same tactics, moving slightly to gain an edge.